Fiberoptic Creature Pics

Reinhold · 09-04-2001, 03:00 PM

Here is a photo of my "Fiberoptic Creatures" growing on a small mushroom rock. The filaments are about 1.5 cm long, and they reflect light like a glass fiber, all different colors. These fibers never retract or move.

The thicker "fibers" appear to be like little ribbon eels, in that the distal ends dart around like an eel or snake. They retract or move if a fish swims near them.

Does anyone have any idea what they are?

bowtie · 09-04-2001, 04:50 PM

I have them too. Not sure what they are, curious myself. They are on a piece of LR that i bought with mushrooms on it.

ScottC · 09-04-2001, 10:00 PM

What camera did you snap that shot with?

Thanks,
Scott

Reinhold · 09-04-2001, 10:49 PM

ScottC:

I used the macro setting on a Nikon CoolPix 990. I like it alot, but the shutter speeds are quite slow. I'm accustomed to my Nikon FE2 with a light-grabbing f1.2 lens and a 1/4000 shutter speed.

In adequate light , the CoolPix shoots a great, high resolution picture.

Marsey · 09-05-2001, 12:28 PM

I have them too- although I have seen the 'clear' fibers retract when touched by a fish and I don't think they just reflect light. They seem to control the light and color output. I have seen them show different colors and different brightnesses at times and the angle I look at them from doesn't make a difference. That's what made me think of them as being like fiber optic cable- it requires a light to shine, without the light going through it, it's just like fishing line.

Biomanjcs72 · 09-05-2001, 12:31 PM

I think it's the crystalline entity growing in your tanks, it will soon outgrow the tanks, then scour galaxy looking for planets to feed and satiate it's growing appetite for class "M" planets.......

sorry, have no idea what they are, couldn't resist though.

Reinhold · 09-05-2001, 04:11 PM

Biomanjcs72!

After I read the first sentence of your post, I panicked and rushed into my living room and smashed my tank with a sledgehammer to prevent the spread of the menace and worldwide destruction!

Then I went back and read the second half of the post....Damn!

Biomanjcs72 · 09-05-2001, 04:12 PM

ROFLMAO

Reinhold · 09-06-2001, 10:06 AM

Does this mean I can name the creature "Reinholdipora fiberopticus?"

If so, I'm going to frag it and send each member of Reefland a piece.

Biomanjcs72 · 09-06-2001, 11:10 AM

Did you try Dr. Ron's forum?

Reinhold · 09-06-2001, 11:48 AM

Great idea, Bioman. I've posted to Dr. Ron's Forum at RC. I'll let you all know what he says.

Reinhold · 09-06-2001, 02:53 PM

Boy, that was quick. I posted the picture and question on RC, and Dr. Ron answered already. here's the link.

Dr. Ron Shimek's Answer

He said they are sponge spicules and are actually made of glass.

Marsey · 09-07-2001, 12:41 AM

Great info! There is a small round orange sponge on the same rock as my fiber optic guys, but I never would have connected the two. Thanks...
Marsey

Jake · 09-07-2001, 10:01 AM

I would have to disagree with Ron. Sponges dont have tenticles and I see two tenticles in the middle of each crown. Did you mention these tenticles to Ron. I have these in my tank and they are not a sponge. The "fiberoptic" crown will rotate slightly and even retract from touch. I thought that they were vermitid snails or possibly a type of mollusk or worm. I realize I don't know 1/10 as much about invertebrate zoology as Ron but I think that his ID is off.

JMHO

Jake

landescaper · 09-09-2001, 02:23 PM

Wornsnail, Vermicularia sp. (knorrii) very common.
Jerel

Reinhold · 09-09-2001, 04:02 PM

Hi Jake:

I think you may be right. The fibers to retract and appear to come from a tube-like hole in the rock itself. I'm going to try and get a better photo from above the specimen and re-post to Dr. Ron's Forum Thanks for the help.

09-04-2001, 03:00 PM	#1
Reinhold Mayor Join Date: May 2001 Location: USA Posts: 941	Fiberoptic Creature Pics Here is a photo of my "Fiberoptic Creatures" growing on a small mushroom rock. The filaments are about 1.5 cm long, and they reflect light like a glass fiber, all different colors. These fibers never retract or move. The thicker "fibers" appear to be like little ribbon eels, in that the distal ends dart around like an eel or snake. They retract or move if a fish swims near them. Does anyone have any idea what they are?

09-05-2001, 04:11 PM	#7
Reinhold Mayor Join Date: May 2001 Location: USA Posts: 941	Oh Darn It! Biomanjcs72! After I read the first sentence of your post, I panicked and rushed into my living room and smashed my tank with a sledgehammer to prevent the spread of the menace and worldwide destruction! Then I went back and read the second half of the post....Damn!

09-06-2001, 10:06 AM	#9
Reinhold Mayor Join Date: May 2001 Location: USA Posts: 941	Nobody Knows What This Is? Does this mean I can name the creature "Reinholdipora fiberopticus?" If so, I'm going to frag it and send each member of Reefland a piece.

09-06-2001, 02:53 PM	#12
Reinhold Mayor Join Date: May 2001 Location: USA Posts: 941	Dr. Ron Answered! Boy, that was quick. I posted the picture and question on RC, and Dr. Ron answered already. here's the link. Dr. Ron Shimek's Answer He said they are sponge spicules and are actually made of glass.

09-07-2001, 10:01 AM	#14
Jake Just Moved In Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Salem, Ma 01970 Posts: 40	I would have to disagree with Ron. Sponges dont have tenticles and I see two tenticles in the middle of each crown. Did you mention these tenticles to Ron. I have these in my tank and they are not a sponge. The "fiberoptic" crown will rotate slightly and even retract from touch. I thought that they were vermitid snails or possibly a type of mollusk or worm. I realize I don't know 1/10 as much about invertebrate zoology as Ron but I think that his ID is off. JMHO Jake __________________ "Dispite the cost of living, have you noticed that it remains so popular?"

09-04-2001, 04:50 PM	#2
bowtie New in Town Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 4	I have them too. Not sure what they are, curious myself. They are on a piece of LR that i bought with mushrooms on it.

09-04-2001, 10:00 PM	#3
ScottC Council Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL Posts: 297	What camera did you snap that shot with? Thanks, Scott

09-04-2001, 10:49 PM	#4
Reinhold Mayor Join Date: May 2001 Location: USA Posts: 941	ScottC: I used the macro setting on a Nikon CoolPix 990. I like it alot, but the shutter speeds are quite slow. I'm accustomed to my Nikon FE2 with a light-grabbing f1.2 lens and a 1/4000 shutter speed. In adequate light , the CoolPix shoots a great, high resolution picture.

09-05-2001, 12:28 PM	#5
Marsey Tenant Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: South Ogden, Utah, USA Posts: 58	I have them too- although I have seen the 'clear' fibers retract when touched by a fish and I don't think they just reflect light. They seem to control the light and color output. I have seen them show different colors and different brightnesses at times and the angle I look at them from doesn't make a difference. That's what made me think of them as being like fiber optic cable- it requires a light to shine, without the light going through it, it's just like fishing line.

09-05-2001, 12:31 PM	#6
Biomanjcs72 Mayor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Birmingham, Al, USA Posts: 815	I think it's the crystalline entity growing in your tanks, it will soon outgrow the tanks, then scour galaxy looking for planets to feed and satiate it's growing appetite for class "M" planets....... sorry, have no idea what they are, couldn't resist though.

09-05-2001, 04:12 PM	#8
Biomanjcs72 Mayor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Birmingham, Al, USA Posts: 815	ROFLMAO

09-06-2001, 11:10 AM	#10
Biomanjcs72 Mayor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Birmingham, Al, USA Posts: 815	Did you try Dr. Ron's forum?

09-06-2001, 11:48 AM	#11
Reinhold Mayor Join Date: May 2001 Location: USA Posts: 941	Great idea, Bioman. I've posted to Dr. Ron's Forum at RC. I'll let you all know what he says.

09-07-2001, 12:41 AM	#13
Marsey Tenant Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: South Ogden, Utah, USA Posts: 58	Great info! There is a small round orange sponge on the same rock as my fiber optic guys, but I never would have connected the two. Thanks... Marsey

09-09-2001, 02:23 PM	#15
landescaper Banned Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 143	Wornsnail, Vermicularia sp. (knorrii) very common. Jerel

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

09-09-2001, 04:02 PM	#16
Reinhold Mayor Join Date: May 2001 Location: USA Posts: 941	Hi Jake: I think you may be right. The fibers to retract and appear to come from a tube-like hole in the rock itself. I'm going to try and get a better photo from above the specimen and re-post to Dr. Ron's Forum Thanks for the help.

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